Amanda Ira Aldridge, one of the most important female composers of the 20th century has been all but forgotten.
Daughter of the groundbreaking actor Ira Aldridge, Amanda, was also a singer and in her latter years a voice teacher. One of her pupils was Paul Robeson who approached her when he cane to the UK to play Othello. He was only the second black actor to play the role. Amanda's father Ira had been the first!
Under the name Montague Ring, Amanda was a composer of many songs and her instrumental music was used in the silent movies.
Image courtesy of Stephen Bourne.
Guest: Stephen Bourne
Stephen Bourne is a writer, film and social historian specialising in black heritage and gay culture. His best-known book is Black Poppies – Britain’s Black Community and the Great War. Stephen's most recent publication is Deep Are the Roots , which celebrates the pioneers of black British theatre, beginning in 1825 when Ira Aldridge made history as the first black actor to play Shakespeare’s Othello in the United Kingdom, and ending in 1975 with the success of Britain’s first black-led theatre company. Stephen has written extensively on Amanda Ira Aldridge.
https://stephenbourne.co.uk/
For a list of Stephen's books:
https://stephenbourne.co.uk/books/
Follow Stephen on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/blackpoppies14
Featuring: Patricia Hammond
https://patriciahammond.com/
youtube.com/patriciahammondsongs
Patricia's book on female composers features a chapter dedicated to Amanda Ira Aldridge
https://www.valleypressuk.com/book/126/she_wrote_the_songs
Follow Patricia on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/hammondpatricia
Music:
Patricia Hammond, Voice
Matt Redman, zither banjo
Andrea Kmecova, piano
Host: Lottie Walker
Editor: Jacob Taylor
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